Task 3.2 - Add Conditional Tasks

Task Overview

In this tutorial task, you'll learn how to create tasks that can change based on varying conditions during a model run. You'll add some constraints to the simulation model that will create these varying conditions. To start, you'll add two additional unloading destinations, for a total of three. Then, you'll add some restrictions to the number of flow items that these queues can accept at a given time by changing their maximum capacity. These limitations will create conditions in which an operator might not be able to unload all the items at a single destination and will have to evaluate whether the queues have room to accept flow items.

You'll create this logic by building a nested sub flow (a sub flow within a sub flow) that uses Decide activities to make decisions dynamically during a simulation run based on whether the destinations have reached their full capacity or not.

When you're finished, your simulation model will operate similar to the following image:

Groups Can Also Act as Arrays

In the previous tutorial, you learned that arrays are data structures that can contain more than one value if needed. To review, you also learned that each element in that array is usually identified by an index, which is a number that indicates the position of the value in the array. In the previous tutorial you created a label that contained an array called GroupOfItems that contained 2-5 flow items that were pulled from the ItemsToTransport list.

But labels aren't the only thing that can contain arrays. 3D object groups actually store information about their members as arrays. Just like you can reference individual flow items in the GroupOfItems array by their index, you can also refer to specific members of a 3D object group by their index. A group member's index is based on the order in which it appears in the group.

For example, in the first step in this tutorial, you'll add two additional queues to the 3D model. Then, you'll add these queues to the Destinations group you created in the previous tutorial:

In this example, the Destinations group has an array that contains three queues. Each queue occupies a position between 1-3 in the array, which is its index.

If you want to reference one of the queues in the array, you will need to use its specific index. Using the example in the preceding image, the FlexScript expression Group("Destinations")[2] would return a reference to Queue2 in the Destination2 plane. The expression Group("Destinations")[3] would return a reference to Queue3 in the Destination3 plane.

Recall that the expression .length will return a value that indicates how many elements are in a specific array. In this same way, the expression Group("Destinations").length would return a value of 3 because there are 3 members in the Destinations group.

Step 1 Modify the 3D Model

In this step, you'll add two additional destinations to the 3D model. Then, you'll add some constraints to your model by restricting how many flow items each queue can hold at a given time. When you're finished, your model will look similar to the following image:

To make these changes:

1. Click the Destination1 plane in the 3D model to select it. (It's the orange one.)
2. Press Ctrl+C to copy the plane and all the objects on it. Click somewhere blank in the model to de-select the original plane. Press Ctrl+V to copy the plane.
3. Repeat this step to add a third plane.
4. With the second copied plane selected, in Quick Properties, change the name of the plane to Destination2.
5. Rename each of the 3D objects on the second copied plane so that they all end in a 2, such as Queue2, Processor2, and Sink2.
6. Repeat these steps to change the name of the third copied plane to Destination3 and renaming all the objects on the plane so that they end in 3.
7. Click Queue1 to select it. In Quick Properties in the Queue tab, in the Max Content box, type 2. Click the OK button to save the changes and close the properties window.



8. Repeat this step for Queue2, changing its Max Content to 1.
9. Repeat this step for Queue3, changing its Max Content to 3.
10. When you copied the two planes, FlexSim should have automatically added Queue2 and Queue3 to the Destinations group. To confirm this, open the Toolbox in the left pane. Double-click the Destinations group to open its properties window. Confirm that the two new queues are in this group.



11. Close all of the group windows.

Check to ensure your model looks similar to the image shown at the beginning of this step.

Step 2 Reorganize the Process Flow

In this step, you'll change the process flow by reorganizing the shapes and activities in the Unloading Sub Flow. This sub flow is actually going to contain a sub flow within a sub flow, so you'll create the organization for that logic. When you're finished, your process flow should look similar to the following image:

For now, you'll merely reorganize some of the shapes and activities in the process flow. But you will make a small change to the Run Sub Flow: Unloading activity at the end of this step.

To reorganize the process flow:

1. Move the Unloading Sub Flow shape so that it is below the other shapes and resize it so that it is much larger.
2. Add a Shape (under Flowchart) and move it so that it is inside the Unloading Sub Flow.
3. Rename the new shape Unload at Destination Sub Flow.
4. In Quick Properties, use the color selector to change the color of the Unload at Destination Sub Flow shape to the second darkest yellow.



5. Click the stacked block of activities in the Unloading Sub Flow to select it. Click the Unlink buttons to separate the Unload Items at Destination activity.
6. Move the Unload Items at Destination activity into the Unload at Destination Sub Flow shape.
7. Right-click the Unload Items at Destination activity to open a menu. Select Edit Activity Visuals to open a properties window.
8. Open the Background Color selector and choose the light yellow color.



9. Rename the Assign Labels: Destination activity as Assign Labels: DestinationNumber.
10. In the Operator Tasks shape, click the Run Sub Flow: Unloading activity to select it. In Quick Properties in the Quantity box, delete the current text and type 1.

Consider saving your simulation model.

Step 3 Add Activities to the Unloading Sub Flow

In this step, you'll add some additional activities to the Unloading Sub Flow process flow. These activities will eventually control unloading logic for the 3D model. When you're finished, your process flow should look similar to the following image:

For now, you'll merely add these activities to the process flow. You'll add connections and edit the properties to add the logic in a later step.

To add these activities:

1. In the Unloading Sub Flow shape, create a stacked block with the following activities:
   • A Run Sub Flow activity (under Sub Flow)
   • A Decide activity (under Basic)
2. Rename the activities as follows:

Activity	New Name
Run Sub Flow	Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination
Decide	Decide: More Items to Unload?

3. Right-click the Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination activity to open a menu. Select Edit Activity Visuals to open a properties window.
4. Open the Background Color selector and choose the light yellow color.



5. Right-click the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to open a menu. Select Edit Activity Visuals to open a properties window.
6. Open the Background Color selector and choose the light orange color.



7. In the Unloading Sub Flow create a stacked block with the following activities:
   • An Assign Labels activity (under Basic)
   • A Decide activity (under Basic)
8. Rename the activities as follows:

Activity	New Name
Assign Labels	Assign Labels: DestinationNumber+1
Decide	Decide: More Destinations to Try?

9. Change the color of both these activities to light orange.
10. Click the stacked block with the Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination to select it. Press Ctrl+C to copy the stacked. Press Ctrl+V to copy the activities.
11. Move the newly copied stacked block so that it is between the Assign Labels: DestinationNumber +1 stacked block and the Finish Unloading Sub Flow activity.
12. Add a Wait for Event activity (under Basic) to the beginning of the newly copied stacked block.
13. Rename the Wait for Event activity as Wait for Event: A Queue Has Space.
14. Right-click the Assign Labels: DestinationNumber+1 activity to open a menu. Select Edit Activity Visuals to open a properties window.
15. Open the Background Color selector and choose the light orange color.



16. Repeat the previous step to change the color of the rest of the activities to light orange (except for the yellow Run Sub Flow activities).
17. In the Unload at Destination Sub Flow shape, create a stacked block with the following activities near the top of the shape:
    • A Start activity (under Sub Flow)
    • A Travel activity (under Task Sequences)
18. Rename the activities as follows:

Activity	New Name
Start	Start Unload at Destination Sub Flow
Travel	Travel to Destination

19. Add a Decide activity (under Basic) under the stacked block, but leave it loose and unconnected.
20. Rename this activity Decide: Any Space for Items?.
21. Add another Decide activity, appending it to the Unload Items at Destination activity to create a stacked block.
22. Rename this activity Decide: More Items to Unload?.
23. Add a Finish activity (under Sub Flow) under the last stacked block, but leave it loose and unconnected.
24. Rename this activity Finish Unload at Destination Sub Flow.
25. Right-click the Start: Unload at Destination activity to open a menu. Select Edit Activity Visuals to open a properties window.
26. Open the Background Color selector and choose the light yellow color.



27. Repeat these steps to change all the activities in the Unload at Destination Sub Flow shape to a light yellow color.

Consider saving your simulation model.

Step 4 Connect the Activities

You'll notice that in the previous step you added some Decide activities. The logic of Decide activities depends on setting up the connectors between your activities correctly. For that reason, you'll work on connecting all the activities correctly in this step. The important thing to pay attention to is making sure you connect the activities in the right order so that the connector rankings are correct. Do your best to ensure that you follow these steps in this exact order.

When you're finished, your process flow should look similar to the following image:

To connect these activities:

1. Create a connector going out from the Assign Labels: DesinationNumber activity to the stacked block starting with the RunSub Flow: Unload at Destination activity.
2. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to the Assign Labels: DesinationNumber+1 activity.
3. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type Yes.
4. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to the Finish Unloading Sub Flow.
5. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type No.
6. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Destinations to Try? activity looping back to the stacked block starting with the Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination activity.
7. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type Yes.
8. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Destinations to Try? activity to the stacked block starting with the Wait for Event: A Queue Has Space activity.
9. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type No.
10. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity looping back to the beginning of the that same stacked block, the one starting with the Wait for Event: A Queue Has Space activity.
11. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type Yes.
12. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to the stacked block starting with the Finish Unloading Sub Flow activity.
13. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type No.
14. Create a connector going out from the Travel to Destination activity to the Decide: Any Space for Items? activity.
15. Create a connector going out from the Decide: Any Space for Items? activity to the Unload Items at Destination activity.
16. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type Yes.
17. Create a connector going out from the Decide: Any Space for Items? activity to the Finish: Unload at Destination Sub Flow activity.
18. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type No.
19. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity looping back to the Decide: Any Space for Items? activity.
20. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type Yes.
21. Create a connector going out from the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to the Finish: Unload at Destination Sub Flow activity.
22. Click the connector you just created to select it. In Quick Properties in the Name box, type No.

Consider saving your simulation model.

Step 5 Edit the Main Unloading Sub Flow Logic

In this step, you'll create the logic that will control the main activities in the unloading sub flow (the orange activities). The following is an overview of how the activities will function:

To create this logic:

1. Click the Assign Labels: DestinationNumber activity to select it. In the Name box, change the text to DestinationNumber.
2. In the Value box, delete the existing text and type 1.00.



3. Click the Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination activity to select it. Click the Exclamation Point button next to this activity to enter sampling mode.
4. Click the Start Unload at Destination Sub Flow activity to sample it.
5. In Quick Properties under the Assign Labels to Children group, click the Add button to add a label.
6. In the Name box, type Destination.
7. In the Value box, type Group("Destinations")[token.DestinationNumber].



8. Click the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Send Token To box to open a menu. Select Conditional Decide to open a properties window.
9. In the Condition box, delete the current text and type token.GroupOfItems.length > 0.



10. Skipping ahead again, repeat these same steps for the second Decide: More Items to Unload? activity so that their properties are identical.
11. Click the Assign Labels: DestinationaNumber+1 activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the Add button to add a label.
12. Click the arrow next to the Name box to open a menu. Point to Token Label, then select DestinationNumber.
13. Click the arrow next to the Value box to open a menu. Select Increment Label to open up a properties window. You'll use the default value of 1 so just click outside of the window.



14. Click the Decide: More Destinations to Try? activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Send Token To box to open a menu. Select Conditional Decide to open a properties window.
15. In the Condition box, delete the current text and type token.DestinationNumber <= Group("Destinations").length.



16. Click the Wait for Event: A Queue Has Space to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Object box to open a menu. Point to Group, then select Destinations.
17. Next to the Event box, click the Sampler button to enter sampling mode.
18. In the 3D model, click any one of the Queue objects to open a menu. Select On Exit.
19. Click the arrow next to the Assign Event Object To box to open a menu. Point to Token Label, then select Destination.



20. Click the Run Sub Flow: Unload at Destination activity to select it. Click the Exclamation Point button next to this activity to enter sampling mode.
21. Click the Start Unload at Destination Sub Flow activity to sample it.

Consider saving your simulation model.

Step 6 Edit the Unload at Destination Sub Flow Logic

In this step, you'll create the logic that will control the activities in the Unload at Destination Sub Flow (the yellow activities). The following is an overview of how the activities will function:

To create this logic:

1. Click the Travel to Destination activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Executer / Task Sequence box to open a menu. Point to Token Label, then select Operator.
2. Click the arrow next to the Destination box to open a menu. Point to Token Label, then select Destination.



3. Click the Decide: Any Space for Items? activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Send Token To box and select Conditional Decide to open a properties window.
4. In the Condition box, type token.Destination.subnodes.length < getvarnum(token.Destination, "maxcontent").



5. Click the Unload Items at Destination activity to select it. In Quick Properties, in the Item box, type token.GroupOfItems.pop().



6. Click the Decide: More Items to Unload? activity to select it. In Quick Properties, click the arrow next to the Send Token To box and select Conditional Decide to open a properties window.
7. In the Condition box, type token.GroupOfItems.length.

Consider saving your simulation model.

Step 7 Run the Simulation Model

Reset and run the model:

As you watch, the operator will start dropping off items at the first queue. When the first queue reaches its maximum capacity of 2 flow items, the operator will move on to the second queue. If the second queue has reached its maximum capacity of 1, then the operator will move to the third queue.

If your model isn't behaving exactly this way, check your properties to make sure you didn't accidentally skip a crucial step. Generally you can figure out which activity is causing problems by checking which activity has tokens at the time an error occurs.

Conclusion

This concludes Tutorial 3. In this tutorial, you built a model with some fairly complex transportation logic. Hopefully you can see how with a little bit of knowledge of FlexScript and some conditional logic using Decide activities, you can make some pretty robust simulation models for any kind of business system you need to simulate.